Safety Device Approved by FIA to Support Drivers with Disabilities

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today approved the first karting seat with roll hoop attachment to facilitate disabled drivers competition in karting events.

Following approval from World Motor Sport Council today, the fiberglass high seat features an innovative lamination developed by Vita Carbon for enhanced impact resistance and can be used in karting races aligned to the FIA Karting Guidelines for Drivers with Disabilities document. Designed with an integrated roll hoop, the seat provides additional attachment points for competitors who require safety belt anchoring to support torso stability, offering drivers with disabilities additional support to enable them to race safely.

The development of the device was led by FIA Disability & Accessibility Commission member and disability driver Fabio Visentin and Vita Carbon, who worked with the support of the FIA Safety Department to design and manufacture the seat with roll hoop which has recently been homologated by the FIA. It is envisaged that the device, which is optional for drivers with disabilities competing in karting, will support a new generation of disabled racers into the entry point of motor sport.

Fabio Visentin, Member of the FIA Disability & Accessibility Commission, said:

“The development and testing of this new roll hoop represent a significant step forward for the safety of karters with disabilities. Ensuring that every driver can compete with the highest protection standards is our top priority. Our goal was to create a product that was not only safe and rigorously tested but also high-performing, ensuring it does not interfere with the chassis’ flexibility. Karters with disabilities now have access to a product that has all these features, and I want to thank Vita Carbon for the development and the FIA for their support in this project.”

Nuno Costa, FIA Safety Director, said:

“Safety should complement accessibility and we’ve been proud to work on this project with Fabio to raise safety standards for karting drivers with disabilities. The karting high seat is a simple but important innovation that facilitates drivers to safety compete and I hope it will provide every karting driver with disabilities with greater confidence and independence.”

As a result of today’s decision, homologated karting high seats up to 32cm have been approved with immediate effect in karting events and it is expected they will first be deployed at races in early 2026.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact FIA Sport Communications Manager, Omar Sharif: osharif@fia.com

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.